Associate RSD Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Description of task

Under the direct supervision of the RSD Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Strategic Direction and Coordination:

• Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
• Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of regional and global RSD standards and policies.

Response and Advice:

• Review RSD decisions and provide appropriate feedback and guidance to RSD staff. [1]
• Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD Assessments in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
• Provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees.
• Assist in designing, implementing and revising, as required, operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of the RSD operation in accordance with applicable standards and policies.
• Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.
• Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing to identify and respond to developments or issues impacting on the efficiency or quality of RSD decision-making, and to propose remedial measures.

Advocacy, Information Management and Research:

• Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and legal issues related to RSD and assist in maintaining a local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
• Ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and legal partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice.
• Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice.
• Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.

Promotion and Capacity Building:

• Assess training needs of UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities and provide on-going training and coaching on legal and procedural RSD issues.
• Support the development and implementation of RSD training initiatives for Government authorities and legal partners.

Human resources:

• Assist in evaluating and projecting RSD staffing needs using the RSD Staffing Benchmarks.
• Support UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities and exercise effective oversight.

[1] Note: RSD UN Volunteers are not authorized to endorse and co-sign RSD decisions.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Law, political science, international relations or another related field

Required experience:

24 Months

Experience remark:

Minimum years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law: 2 years (with a postgraduate degree) or 4 years (with an undergraduate degree)

Language skills:

• French(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• English(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise:

Other emergency management experience

Area of expertise details:

• Minimum 1 year of experience working directly with procedures and principles related to RSD.
• Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) awareness and demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• The ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations.

Desirable qualifications and competencies:

• Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures is highly desirable.
• Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees.
• Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.
• Completion of UNHCR's RSD Learning Programme, COI Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme.
• Experience in supervising and in providing training or coaching, guidance or advice to staff.

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Respect for Diversity, Technological Awareness, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

This assignment is funded by the Government of Spain, therefore only Spanish nationals are eligible to apply.

Please apply via the link below. You can then either log in if you already have an account or register via ‘Candidate Signup’. You may apply to a maximum of three assignments per advertisement and indicate your order of preference in the ‘Additional Remarks’ section of your profile.

Application deadline: 18 April 2021

Selection process

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment. Interviews will be conducted by the UN Host Entity between 17 May and 4 June. Usually these interviews are competency-based.

COVID-19: In case of travel restrictions, assignments may start remotely or start dates may be postponed.